The season arrived yesterday at 11:44 a.m., hours before the Mets again did their best to assure fans this could be a replay of The Fall, 2007.

Now what? Give the ball to Johan Santana and just pray, if you are the Mets, that he stifles the Cubs tonight.

Jonathon Niese reminded everyone last night that he’s still a cub, as the NL Central champions were battering the rookie around Shea Stadium. It left the Mets with a 9-5 loss to Chicago and their first three-game losing streak since early August.

It’s probably wild card or bust for the Mets, who watched their deficit in the NL East race swell to 2 ½ games with the Phillies’ victory over Atlanta. In the wild-card chase, the Mets’ lead on the idle Brewers was reduced to one game, with six remaining for each club.

“I feel pretty confident we can get in this thing,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “There are some guys showing some things you like to see.”

Jason Marquis (11-9) allowed four runs over 6 2/3 innings for the victory, but did his best work swinging the bat, driving in five runs. Included was a grand slam.

Niese (1-1) allowed six earned runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts over three-plus innings, his feet solidly hitting earth again after firing eight shutout innings against the Braves in his previous start.

Manuel said he’s not sure if Niese will make his next start, which would come Saturday against the Marlins.

Though the Cubs clinched home field throughout the NL playoffs with the victory, the Mets shouldn’t expect any “sweet” favors from Lou Piniella for the remaining three games of this series.

The Cubs manager said yesterday his team has an “obligation” to try and win these games, regardless of the circumstances. The Cubs finish the regular season with a series against the Brewers.

“The big picture is we’re in the driver’s seat,” said Mets third baseman David Wright, who hit a two-run homer in the seventh.

Niese labored through 78 pitches, his night complete with Marquis’ grand slam in the fourth inning that extended Chicago’s lead to 6-2.

The ugly inning began with Niese surrendering a leadoff double to Geovany Soto before the Cubs put together three straight singles, scoring a run. Marquis then hammered a hanging curve into the Mets’ bullpen.

Nelson Figueroa replaced Niese and retired two batters before Derrek Lee blasted a shot into the bleachers in deep left-center. The Cubs added a run in the fifth on Marquis’ RBI fielder’s choice and then one run in the ninth.